Franz Kafka
- 1. “I am a cage, in search of a bird.” — The Blue Octavo Notebooks
- 2. “A book must be the axe for the frozen sea within us.” — The Blue Octavo Notebooks
- 3. “The meaning of life is that it stops.” — The Diaries of Franz Kafka
- 4. “I cannot make you understand. I cannot make anyone understand what is happening inside me. I cannot even explain it to myself.” — The Diaries of Franz Kafka
- 5. “I have spent all my life resisting the desire to end it.” — The Diaries of Franz Kafka
- 6. “The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man’s heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.” — The Diaries of Franz Kafka
- 7. “In the fight between you and the world, back the world.” — The Diaries of Franz Kafka
- 8. “I don’t think I would have come this far if I had known how difficult it would be.” — The Diaries of Franz Kafka
- 9. “You are at the farthest edge of your limits. Go beyond them and there is the beginning of a new horizon.” — The Diaries of Franz Kafka
- 10. “I always prefer to believe the best of everyone.” — The Diaries of Franz Kafka
- 11. “Start with what is right rather than what is acceptable.” — The Diaries of Franz Kafka
- 12. “Every revolution evaporates and leaves behind only the slime of a new bureaucracy.” — The Diaries of Franz Kafka
- 13. “God gives the nuts, but he does not crack them.” — The Diaries of Franz Kafka
- 14. “He who seeks does not find, but he who does not seek will be found.” — The Diaries of Franz Kafka
- 15. “There are only two things. Truth and lies. Truth is indivisible, hence it cannot recognize itself; anyone who wants to recognize it has to be a lie.” — The Diaries of Franz Kafka
- 16. “Evil is whatever distracts.” — The Diaries of Franz Kafka
- 17. “Youth is happy because it has the ability to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.” — The Diaries of Franz Kafka
- 18. “From a certain point onward there is no longer any turning back. That is the point that must be reached.” — The Diaries of Franz Kafka
- 19. “May I kiss you then? On this miserable paper? I might as well open the window and kiss the night air.” — The Diaries of Franz Kafka
- 20. “In the fight between you and the world, back the world.” — The Diaries of Franz Kafka
- 21. “The history of mankind is the instant between two strides taken by a traveller.” — The Diaries of Franz Kafka
- 22. “Everything that you love, you will eventually lose, but in the end, love will return in a different form.” — The Diaries of Franz Kafka
- 23. “It’s only because of their stupidity that they’re able to be so sure of themselves.” — The Diaries of Franz Kafka
- 24. “I am a helpless, unhappy creature. I want to feel the world in its entirety.” — The Diaries of Franz Kafka
- 25. “A man of action has to move. If he does not move, he is nothing.” — The Diaries of Franz Kafka
- 26. “The true way goes via a rope, which is suspended not high up but just above the ground. It seems designed more to make one stumble than to be walked.” — The Zürau Aphorisms
- 27. “Alas,” said the mouse, “the whole world is growing smaller every day. At the beginning it was so big that I was afraid, I kept running and running, and I was glad when I saw walls far away to the right and left, but these long walls have narrowed so quickly that I am in the last chamber already, and there in the corner stands the trap that I am running into.” — A Little Fable
- 28. “You only need to change your direction,” said the cat, and ate it up. — A Little Fable
- 29. “It is entirely conceivable that life’s splendour forever lies in wait about each one of us in all its fullness, but veiled from view, deep down, invisible, far off. It is there, though, not hostile, not reluctant, not deaf. If you summon it by the right word, by its right name, it will come. This is the essence of magic, which does not create but summons.” — The Zürau Aphorisms
- 30. “It is not necessary that you leave the house. Remain at your table and listen. Do not even listen, only wait. Do not even wait, be wholly still and alone.” — The Diaries of Franz Kafka
Are Franz Kafka’s quotes in the public domain?
Yes, Franz Kafka’s works, including his quotes from The Diaries, The Zürau Aphorisms, and The Blue Octavo Notebooks, are in the public domain in the United States and many other countries. This means you can freely use his quotes without copyright restrictions.
What is Franz Kafka most famous for saying?
One of Kafka’s most famous quotes is: “A book must be the axe for the frozen sea within us.” This reflects his deep belief in literature as a transformative force.
Where can I find authentic Franz Kafka quotes?
Authentic Kafka quotes can be found in his published works now in the public domain, such as The Trial, The Metamorphosis, and The Zürau Aphorisms. Reputable sources like Project Gutenberg and Wikisource also provide free access.
Why are Franz Kafka’s quotes still relevant today?
Kafka’s quotes remain relevant because they deal with timeless human struggles—alienation, bureaucracy, truth, and the search for meaning. His words resonate strongly with modern readers facing similar existential dilemmas.